Things to do in Cobb on (and before) July 4th

Cathy Smith was the state of liberty on the Avonlea Apartments float. Hundreds of spectators lined the streets of Marietta Tuesday, July 4, 2017 for the Marietta Freedom Parade.

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Cathy Smith was the state of liberty on the Avonlea Apartments float. Hundreds of spectators lined the streets of Marietta Tuesday, July 4, 2017 for the Marietta Freedom Parade.
"Independence Day" is a movie from 1996. You should have seen it by now. (20th Century Fox)

Credit: 20th Century Fox

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Credit: 20th Century Fox

It's again that time of year to celebrate Will Smith's against-all-odds victory over the aliens by giving them the common cold in 1996.

Or something like that.

Here’s how you can celebrate Independence Day in Cobb County.

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June 30

Kennesaw State University is hosting an early bout of Independence Day fireworks.

The free festivities start at 5 p.m. in Fifth Third Bank Stadium with games and patriotic music.

The concert and exploding stuff happen between 8 and 10 p.m. Check out more details here.

READ | Actual Factual Cobb: How did the county's cities get these crazy names?

July 3

Salute to America

The city of Kennesaw is hosting a free event with two stages of music from groups like Head Games the Foreigner tribute band and student band School of Rock East Cobb.

The fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m. You can find parking details here.

Here are the street closures from 2 p.m. to midnight:
• Cherokee Street from Big Shanty Drive to Main Street
• Main Street from Lewis Street to Summers Street 
• J.O. Stephenson Avenue from Main Street to Dallas Street
• Watts Drive from Main Street to entrance of Revival on Main

READ | An honest-to-goodness hipster's guide to Cobb County

July 4

Fourth in the Park

The city of Marietta is hosting its annual Fourth in the Park. The downtown parade, with its 110 entries, begins at 10 a.m. at Roswell Street Baptist Church. It then travels west on Roswell Street, north on East Park Square past Glover Park and the Square, down Cherokee Street and ends at North Marietta Parkway.

Then there's a crafts show with, according to organizers, 80 vendors.

From 8 to 9:30 p.m. will be a performance by Departure, a Journey tribute band, and fireworks.

Folks looking for a bird's eye view of the festivities can buy a $10 ticket to hang out on the top of the Strand's roof with a cash bar.

READ | The ultimate Fourth of July weekend guide

It’s a party in Acworth

The city of Acworth and the Acworth Business Association are having a free beach party at Cauble Park, according to the city tourism website. Live music starts at 5:30 p.m., and fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. as long as the weather holds up.

Heads-up: Anyone who parks at Cauble will not be allowed to leave once the fireworks have begun. Vehicles there can only split once the fireworks are over.

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